On this week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, guest host Sally Ganga talks about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) programs, beginning post-secondary education at two-year institutions, and how to teach your soon-to-be-college-student to set up a budget.

Once upon a time, a boy in my middle school Math League questioned why I was a member because “girls weren’t really good at math anyway.” The remark stung and happened to coincide with my own self-doubts. Although I had always been a very strong math student, I was struggling with that particular unit of 8th grade Algebra. I really questioned whether to go to the next Math League meeting.

I hadn’t thought much about that moment since then, until my own daughter, at age 13, came home with a similar story after attending a tech club meeting. I would have thought we had progressed more in thirty years, but apparently not.

In the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Ian Fisher helped listeners brave the cold, with an hour packed with resources and information—for parents looking to help their students better manage their finances, for high school students looking for summer opportunities in STEM fields, and for seniors finishing up their college applications.

It’s not unusual to meet high school students who haven’t quite narrowed down their particular interest of study or what major they want to pursue. But what about students who have an interest in STEM that haven’t necessarily discerned what they want to do with that interest? How can a student leverage a degree in biology, chemistry, physics, or computer science if they’re unsure how they want to use such a degree?

Where to Begin with STEM Education

When NASA’s New Horizons makes its Pluto flyby this month, it’s not hard to imagine a new generation of students romanticizing the idea of a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). Some might be taken by scientific discoveries. Others might be blown away with the project’s daring in engineering. And still others will be amazed simply by the mathematics and physics involved. The project’s incredible scale is sure to impress upon students the boundless possibilities awaiting those who pursue a career in STEM: from opportunities to shed scientific light upon the dark unknown, to the prospect of simply thinking mathematically, to the real-world feats of engineering that can take humanity’s gaze into the far reaches of our solar system.

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The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts is where College Coach experts weigh in on the latest college admissions topics. We cover everything from application timelines and strategies to tips on financing your child's education.